By Lynda Raines
Copy Editor

A meeting to inform Brandermill residents about the Chesterfield County Comprehensive Plan progress was held on the evening of October 20 at Brandermill Woods. Fifteen residents and Community Manager Jane Pritz were present.

Steve Haasch and Heather Barrar of the Chesterfield County Planning Department conducted the meeting, which offered attendees the opportunity to voice concerns and offer feedback.

Haasch said, “Planning for Chesterfield County’s future is a one-of-a-kind undertaking.” He said that the needs of Chesterfield County are unique, and that planning for the county’s growth will reflect those needs.

Those in attendance were asked to identify what is working in Chesterfield County and what needs improvement. Attendees were quick to point out the quality of Chesterfield County Public Schools as one of the most positive aspects of living in the county, along with the wooded landscape in communities like Brandermill.

Residents’ Suggestions

• Offer incentives in order to attract a variety of businesses to the county.
• Widening Old Hundred Road between U.S. Route 360 and Genito Road using economic stimulus funds.
• Attention should be paid to the revitalization of Hull Street Road East as opposed to the push to the western part Chesterfield County.
• The county should build quality playgrounds in less affluent areas each time a playground is built in a privileged area of the county.
• Eliminate panhandling at the Old Hundred Road/U.S. Route 360 intersection.
• Infrastructure should be in place prior to new

One Stage at a Time

The Comprehensive Plan is a county-wide project that will unfold in four stages: defining the county’s existing conditions and needs; developing the vision; drafting the plan; and adopting the plan. A 34-member steering committee meets regularly to monitor the needs of the county and to study the suggestions of residents. Public workshops in the five county districts were held from late September through early October. A draft of the Chesterfield County Comprehensive Plan will be developed by the fall of 2010. At that time, additional public input will be solicited. For more information about the plan, please visit www.chesterfield.gov/cp, email Comprehensive Plan Manager Barbara Bassett at fassettb@chesterfield.gov, or call 748-1081.